EVENTS and Activities

JULY 4

Oaks Park open for fun and fireworks today in Southeast: Nonprofit and historic Oaks Amusement Park is open at noon today for their special annual family-oriented ticketed celebration of Independence Day until 12 midnight tonight (gates open at 11 a.m.). Come when you like; leave when you like – but most stay for the fireworks show after sunset! For tickets and more information, including everything else happening all summer at Oaks Park (follow Oaks Park Way north from the road at the railroad tracks at the foot of Spokane Street in Sellwood), go online to – http://www.oakspark.com

JULY 13

Southeast nonprofit has sale and open house: You’re invited to a Pop-Up Sale & Open House from 11 to 5 today, at “MakeWith Hardware and Learning Center”, 5908 S.E. 72nd Avenue, just north of the Arleta Triangle. Stop by to see the space, learn about workshops, and pick out some fun and practical gifts – tools, kits, and more.

SMILE free Saturday summer concerts start this evening: At 7 tonight, and on each successive Saturday evening in July at 7 p.m., there’s a free concert underwritten by the SMILE neighborhood association for Sellwood and Westmoreland plus various local sponsors; each will be held on the Windermere Building south-side parking lot on S.E. 15th Avenue, across from the Sellwood-Moreland Post Office on Bybee Blvd. Tonight’s concert features The J.T. Wise Band.

JULY 14

“Portland Bridge Swim” starts at Sellwood Riverfront Park: The 13th annual, 11-mile “Portland Bridge Swim” starts out from Sellwood Riverfront Park at 7:30 a.m. this morning, and everyone is welcome to be there for the start. Registration to compete is limited to 100 entries, and people from across the country and beyond come to swim from the Sellwood Bridge down to the St. John’s Bridge, and exit the water by 3 p.m. at Cathedral Park. For more, go online – http://portlandbridgeswim.com/2024-race-information

JULY 16

Wildfire film shows tonight: This evening, 6:30-8:30 p.m., see a film screening of “Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire”, at nonprofit “MakeWith”, at 5908 S.E. 72nd Avenue. In the wake destructive fires across the nation, “Elemental” is a look at discovering how we can all reimagine our relationship with wildfire, and keep our homes and communities safe. RSVPs encouraged to be sure of a seat: Email – hello@makewithpdx.com.

JULY 20

SMILE free Saturday summer concerts continue this evening: The artist is Hank Sinatra. Held on the Windermere Building south-side parking lot on S.E. 15th Avenue, across from the Sellwood-Moreland Post Office on Bybee Blvd. in Westmoreland.

JULY 22

“Rogue Pack” Theatre Camp for teens starts this morning: From 9 to noon today, it’s the first session (“Playwriting and Performance”) of the two-week summer Theatre Camp for teens by Rogue Pack – held at Moreland Presbyterian Church, 1814 S.E. Bybee Boulevard in Westmoreland. After a lunch at noon, the program continues this afternoon 1-4 p.m. (“Improvisational Theatre”). For more information on Rogue Pack, and to see if there are any openings left in this class, go online – http://www.roguepack.org

JULY 25

Southeast nonprofit offers “how to” classes: Today, 6:30-8:30 p.m., nonprofit “Make With” is offering a workshop on “Intro to Plumbing: Solving Common Problems”, at their location – 5908 S.E. 72nd Avenue; the fee is $75.00. Then, on July 27 and 28, there’s a workshop on “Intro to Carpentry: Framing Small Structures — Chicken Coops” (two different sessions, one each day) 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The fee for both days is $360. Learn more, see more workshops, and sign up for one, at – http://www.makewithpdx.com

JULY 27

SMILE free Saturday summer concerts continue this evening: The performance tonight is by “Mbrascatu”. Held on the Windermere Building south-side parking lot on S.E. 15th Avenue, across from the Sellwood-Moreland Post Office on Bybee Blvd. in Westmoreland.

AUGUST 3

FREE Open Garden in Brentwood-Darlington: Today from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., the Multnomah County Master Gardener Demonstration Garden is offering you a self-guided tour of their one-acre educational garden. Learn about edible plants, non-edible native plants, wildlife habitats, native bees, invertebrates, and the management of urban creatures. Have your gardening questions answered by the Master Gardeners, bring home free educational materials – and free seeds and bee houses, while they last. There is also a children's booth for fun activities; and you can enter a raffle for a nursery gift certificate. This “drop-in” day at the garden is open to all. Entrance is on S.E. 57th Avenue – about 500 feet south of Duke Street. Just walk in the gate and through the Green Thumb Community Orchard. Questions? Email: demogarden@multnomahmastergardeners.org

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